To help protect ancient trees
We want to see the role and value of ancient trees properly recognised and action taken to safeguard them from harm.
And, we want communities to celebrate their tree heritage.
Hence, we are encouraging best practice in the management of ancient trees through advice, strengthening incentives to support those who want to act and initiatives to train and improve the skills of people involved in protecting and managing these trees.
In 2003 in partnership with the Ancient Tree Forum we launched our call to action for ancient trees: ‘Ancient Trees in the UK – Securing their Future’. It reflects our joint commitment to conserve ancient trees and to ensure a continuity of ancient trees into the future.
This has led to the production of our Ancient Tree Guides.
Then in 2007, again in partnership with the Ancient Tree Form but also with over 60 other partners and more than 100 volunteer verifiers, we launched our most ambitious project ever - the Ancient Tree Hunt.
This project aims to identify and record more than 100,000 ancient trees across the UK by 2011, so that we can protect them. In its first year, over 3,000 had taken part and we have received over 13,500 tree records.
The Woodland Trust wants to hear about any ancient tree near you that is under threat. We will then make investigations and consider what action might be possible to save it. The sooner you let us know, the sooner we can act to protect another wonderful part of our heritage.